Jerez de la Frontera is a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southwestern Spain, situated midway between the sea and the mountains. As of 2008, the city, the largest city in the province, had 205,364 inhabitants; it is the fifth largest in Andalusia. It has become the transportation and communications hub of the province, surpassing even Cádiz, the provincial capital, in economic activity. Jerez de la Frontera is also, in terms of land area, the largest municipality in the province, and its sprawling outlying areas are a fertile zone for agriculture. There are also many cattle ranches and horse-breeding operations. For those who ignore it, the municipality of Jerez, is considered old, as one of the largest in Europe - third, it seems, as always said - measuring the total surface area of 142,420 hectares and 80 term centiáreas, or aranzadas is 314,000, or approximately 46 square miles.

Government

The city of Jerez is governed by the ayuntamiento (municipality) of Jerez, whose representatives, as in other towns in Spain, are elected every four years by universal suffrage for all citizens older than 18 years of age. The body is chaired by the mayor of Jerez. Pilar Sánchez Muñoz of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party has been the mayor of Jerez since 2005.

Economy

The economy of Jerez has traditionally been centered on the wine industry, with exports of sherry worldwide. Because it lacks the civil service that other cities enjoy, Jerez has based its economy on industry. The cultivation of fruits, grains, and vegetables and horse and cattle husbandry has also been important to the local economy.

After the wine crisis in the 1990s, the city is now seeking to expand its industrial base. Tourism has been successfully promoted. The city's strong identity as a center for wine, flamenco, and horses, its popular festivals, MotoGP hosting and its historical heritage have contributed to this success, .

The city is the home of Jerez Airport and has also been positioning itself as a logistics hub for western Andalucia, through the integration between the airport, the rail system and nearby ports.

Climate

Jerez de la Frontera is in an area of Mediterranean climate with oceanic influences, characterized by mild and wet winter and dry hot summer. The average annual temperature is 17.7 °C (64 °F). Winters are mild, and January is the coldest month, with 5.4 °C (42 °F). Summers are very hot, August has the highest average of 33.1 °C (91.6 °F) and every year exceeded 38 °C (100 °F) on several occasions. The average annual precipitation are 598 mm per year, concentrated in the months of October through April. December is the wettest month with 109 mm. There are 54 rainy days per year, 137 clear days, 2,966 hours of sunshine a year, a few days of frost and no snow.

There are signs of human presence in the area from the upper Neolithic, and Jerèz de la Frontera has been inhabited by humans since at least the Copper or Neolithic Age, but the identity of the first natives remains unclear. The first major protohistoric settlement in the area (around the third millennium BC) is attributed to the Tartessos.

Jerèz was the capital of the Taifa of Jerez, which joined the Almohad Empire and later the Crown of Castile in 1264. The Discovery of America and the Conquest of Granada, in 1492, made Jerez one of the most prosperous cities of Andalusia through trade and its proximity to the ports of Seville and Cadiz. Despite the social, economic and political decadence that occurred in the seventeenth century, towards the end of the Habsburg rule, the city managed to maintain a reasonable pace of development, becoming world wide famous for its wine industry.

Basílica del Carmen.

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The City's name

Its name goes back to the existence of Phoenician Xera, Sèrès, then romanized under the name of Ceret; the location of this settlement, however, remains unknown.[citation needed]

In former times, during the Muslim occupation of Iberia, it was called Xerez or Xeres. Frontera in its name refers to its location on the border between the Moorish and Christian regions of Spain during that period. The name of the famous fortified wine, sherry, which originated here (although some argue that it originated in Shiraz, Persia), is an adaptation of the city's Arabic name, which is pronounced Sherish.

Early history

Jerez was a small independent emirate created c. 1030 in what is now Spain after the fall of the Emirate of Córdoba. Some years later it was united to Arcos by Aben Jairuan who ruled both c. 1040-1053. In 1053 it was annexed to Sevilla. From 1145 to 1147 the region of Arcos and Jerez was briefly an emirate under dependency of Granada, led by Aben Garrum.

There are two museums of note: the Jerez Archaeological Museum and the Atalaya Watch Museum (also known as "Palace of Time").

The old quarter of Jerez, dating from medieval times, has been named an "Artistic Historic Complex". The Easter week celebrations in Jerez are of "National Touristic Interest", and its remarkable Horse Fair (Feria del Caballo) in May is an event of "International Touristic Interest".

This is the city from where all the actors of "En tu ausencia" [4], the 2007 independent movie by Ivan Noel come from. The movie was filmed in the city's region. Gonzalo Sanchez Salas is the boy, found working in a butcher shop in the city, that performs the role of Pablo, the lead characther in the movie.

Sport

Jerez is present in most important national competitions. The more important clubs in different sport are:

Puma Chapín Jerez: Jerez is home to one of the best athletic teams of Spain. It has been champion of Spain in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.[citation needed] It has been the Copa del Rey champion many times.

Club Natación Jerez: it has been champion of many championships, it has won the "Campeonato de España Master" ("Championship of Spain Master") many times.

Canasta Unibasket Jerez: City's basketball team. In the next season, it will be in the LEB Plata (Spanish's basketball's league of Silver).

The city is also home to a member of the Official School of Languages (Escuela Oficial de Idiomas) and a center of the National Distance Education University (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, UNED).

Demographics

According to official population data from INE, the municipality of Jerez had 205,364[5] inhabitants as of January 1, 2008. This makes Jerez the most populous city in the province, fifth in Andalusia, and 27th in Spain.

From Wikitravel

Contents

Understand

Few places in Spain can be said to enjoy the international
renown of Jerez as, thanks to its sherry wines, the name of the
city crossed international borders many years ago.

But Jerez is not just a city of wines and beautiful buildings,
it has much more to offer than that: home of the Carthusin horse,
the fighting bull, cradle of flamenco art, capital of motorcycle
racing and home to international sporting events, and on top of all
that, declared to be of Artistic and Historical interest.

Nowadays Jerez is a large city where long-standing traditions
coexist in perfect harmony with the modern: large shopping centres
and wide avenues converge upon the historic, cheerful and bustling
city-center, where shopping and tapas go hand in hand. All of these
distinctive features, together with a privileged geographical
situation and climate, a unique and distinct tourist
attractiveness, and modern infrastructures, all make Jerez the
perfect place to live in and to visit.

Get in

By train

Jerez is on the main line between Sevilla and Cadiz. RENFE,
Spanish National Railway. [2]

By bus

Consorcio de Transportes Bahía de Cádiz [3] operate a
semi-regular bus service from Jerez Airport to downtown Jerez
(one-way ticket €1) and onwards to Cádiz (view timetable
[4]). A train service operates from Sevilla San Justa train
station direct to Jerez and Cadiz, for those arriving via Seville
airport.

Alameda Vieja Walk at dusk around this area,
on the top of the hil where the Alcazar was built. The fresh air
from the cost, the nice and colorful sun make it unforgettable,
besides enjoying one of the nicest area in the city, among the
Cathedral, the Arab fortress and a Wine Cellar.

Casco antiguo. Bring a map and let yourself
discover the narrow streets, small squares and noble buildings from
Middle Age. Calle Francos is a must, since was the central street
during the Arabs dominion, linking the Santiago Gate and the Royal
Gate (Plaza del Arenal), and Plaza del Mercado, in which the
Andalusi market was established during the Middle Age as well.

Terraza Sabores is the nicest terrace roof you
can find in the old city during summertime. It belongs to the Hotel
Chancilleria([13]), it´s
very easy to access, just taking the elevator in the main patio or
going upstairs. Sorrounding by old church towers, the view and
situation are really nice, enjoying a wine, cold drinks or any
cocktail, they usually play soft music, bossa nova or jazz.

Hammam Andalusí, Arabic Baths, has become an
essential stop for any visitor to Jerez as indeed it is to many
locals. It is set in a beautifully restored 18th century house in
the old part of the town and consists in a circuit of 3 pools (warm
hot and cold)with optional relaxing massages of 15 and 30 minutes,
starting at €15 for an hour and a half of bath only, 25 and 40 with
the respective massages included. They also have special treatments
which include scrubs and wraps which are ideal for a couple and
last 2 and a half hours. The accompanying relaxing music and
candle-lit atmosphere provide for a truly memorable and relaxing
time. Highly recommended. Incidentally, on the 21st October (Year?)
they tell me they are going to open a stunning tea-room upstairs on
the first floor, for those who might visit after that date.

Buy

There are many shopping centres in Jerez, mainly out of the city
centre. Cinemas, department stores, etc. but if you want to enjoy
the taste and charm of the city, the city centre is the best place
to stay.

Calle Larga. The local people, jerezanos, say
that no one can talk about having been in Jerez and not having
walking around this street. As large as the old wall was, this
street is full of bars, shops and anything you may need.

Café Central. Calle Remedios, 7. It´s not
openly a gay café, but you will find many local gay and lesbian
people.

La Fonda Barranco, C/Barranco 12, Jerez de la
Frontera, ☎956 332
141, [14]. La Fonda Barranca [15] is a delightful new
boutique hotel in the historic centre of Jerez. Just eight rooms
and a suite arranged around an interior courtyard tucked in behind
a discreet street facade. Elegant Andalusian/Moroccan decor, superb
showers and toileteries, and breakfast on the roof terrace. Very
good value at about €85 (double) a night. It's comfortable, quiet,
and friendly.edit

NH Avenida Jerez, Avda. Alcalde Alvaro Domecq,
10, +34.95.6347411
[16]. This comfortable hotel is situated in the centre of the
city, near the ‘Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Ecuestre’ (Andalusian
Royal School of Equestrian Art), and 10km from the beach, its
modern and functional decoration creates the feel of being in a
different hotel.

Get out

Arcos de la Frontera. 40 minutes by bus from
Jerez. One of Andalucia's most dramatically positioned pueblos
blancos (white villages), Arcos balances atop a rocky limestone
ridge, its whitewashed houses and stone castle walls stopping
abruptly as a sheer cliff face plunges down to the fertile valley
of the river Guadalete below.

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